NZ vs Pak 4th T20I: Mitchell and Phillips Shine, Men in Green Still Winless

New Zealand clinched a commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth match of their series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Friday (January 19). This win places Pakistan on the brink of a series sweep, as they have yet to secure a win. The Black Caps’ successful chase of 159 was spearheaded by unbeaten half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (72 not out) and Glenn Phillips (70 not out), overcoming an early stumble at 20-3 to reach the target in 18.1 overs.

In the earlier phase of the match, New Zealand chose to field first. Pakistan’s opener Saim Ayub was dismissed early, but Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam formed a solid 51-run partnership. However, Babar departed for 19, halting his series of consecutive half-centuries. Rizwan continued to anchor the innings, with Mohammad Nawaz contributing a quick 21* off 9 balls, helping Pakistan reach a competitive total of 158 for 6.

New Zealand’s bowling was led by Matt Henry (2 for 22) and Lockie Ferguson (2 for 27), with captain Mitchell Santner also delivering a cost-effective performance, allowing only 23 runs in his 4 overs.

During New Zealand’s chase of 159, Pakistan initially gained the upper hand with three early wickets taken by captain Shaheen Afridi. Facing a precarious situation at 20 for 3, New Zealand needed a significant partnership, which came through Mitchell and Phillips. They constructed a strong 139-run stand in 93 balls, rescuing their team from potential defeat. Their strategy included sharp running between the wickets and effectively targeting loose deliveries. Pakistan’s fielding efforts were lackluster, offering Mitchell two lifelines.

Post Shaheen’s initial breakthroughs, Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to make further inroads, with Haris Rauf proving costly (0 for 29 in 3.1 overs). Pakistan now faces a challenging task to secure a victory in the series, needing improvements across all aspects of their game.

The series concludes with the fifth and final T20I scheduled for Sunday (January 21) at the same venue.